Orthodontic appliance



Aug- 2, 1932 s. R. ATKINSON 1,869,733

ORTHODONTIA APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 www fg Patented Aug. 2, 1932`{EPL'SlNCER BJ. ATKINSON, QF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA olrrnononrroAPPLIANGE Application led January 25,v 1930. Serial No. 423,491.

My invention relates toan orthodontic ap-v pliancev and h as for itsprincipal object, theV provision of relatively simple and efhcient meansthat is associated with the tooth encircling band and the archrwire, forlengthening the latter from time to time as conditions require.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide an arch wire adjustingdevice that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive ofmanufacture, capable of being readily and accurately adjusted andfurther, to provide a device of the character referred to that willeliminate the necessity for the 'f5' cutting of threads onthe ends ofthe arch wire and which latter'insome instances are very small.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a lengthening attachmentfor the ends of arch wires that will firmly hold said arch wires againstrotation when properly secured to the tooth b-ands, further, to providea device of the character referred to that will form a strong andsubstantial adjustable connection between the end of the arch wire andtooth encircling band and further, to provide an attachment that willVact automatically in holding the adjusting nut, that forms a part ofthe device against rotation while in service. j

lith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill hereinafter be more fully de-` scribed and claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a tooth band and showing my improvedarch wire adjusting deviceapplied thereto.

Figj2 is an enlarged section taken through the center of the adjustinglattachment.

Y Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a cross sectional viewv similar to Fig. 3

and showing a modified form of the attachment.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the threadedsheath that is applied to the end of the arch wire.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a further modied form of the threaded arch wireengaging sheath.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the arch wire sheath that forms apart ofl my in'- vention. y Y

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrate apractical emi bodiment of my invention, 10 designates the tooth band ofan orthodontic appliance, the v.

ends of which lbands are connected by the usual threaded pin and boltandvpermanently secured to said band, preferably at a point directlyopposite the connected ends thereof is a tubular member 11, thatreceives the end of the usual arch wire W. l

@ne end of a substantially channel shaped sheath 12 is permanentlysecured, preferably b-y solder to the end of the archv wire W thatprojects through the tube 1'1 and formed on the outer circular face ofthe sheath 12 are screw threads 13. This sheath extends entirely throughthe tube l1 and as said sheath is somewhat longer than the tube, theends of said sheath project beyond the ends of said tube.

Screw-seated on' one of the projecting ends of the sheath is a nut 14that bears directly against the corresponding end of tube 1l..

In order to prevent rotation of the arch wire W within the tube thelatter is provided on its inner surface with a longitudinally disposedflat face 15 that is engaged by the exposed face of that portion of thewire lV that occupies the sheath l2.

Sheath ,12 is formed of metal having a certain degree of resiliency andthe side portions of the end of said sheath that receives the nut 14 arespread apart a slight distance, as illustrated in Fig. 7 and theresulting tension acts to frictionally engage the nut so as to resistrotation thereof and thus said nut is retained against accidentalremoval.

Y When my improved orthodontic appliance is in use the parts areassembled, as illusvtrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the arch wire W 'sretained against rotation in the tube 11 by the engagement of theexposed facel of that portion of the wire that occupies the sheath,against the flat face 15 within tube 11.

The nut 14 normally bears against the end of tube 11 and in order tolengthen the arch wire the nut 14 may be rotated on the threadedexterior of sheath 12, thereby drawing the same through the tube 11 andas the Wire IV is soldered to said sheath, said wire will be drawnlengthwise through the tube 11, thus accomplishing the desired results.

In some instances the sheath is provided with oppositely disposed flatfaces, which engage correspondingly arranged flat faces within the tube11, thus holding the sheath and arch wire against rotation and Wheresuch construction is employed, the rounded side faces of the sheathbetween the flat faces thereon, are threaded for the reception of theadjusting nut (see Fig. 4).

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified arrangement wherein a solidwall 16 is formed at one end of the sheath 12. Where such constructionis employed, the end of the arch wire `W abuts directly against the endwall 16, thereby eliminating the necessity for soldering the sheath tothe arch wire.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modified form of the sheath, wherein alongitudinally disposed slot 17 is formed in the bottom of said sheathand the portions of the sheath to the sides of said slot are bent apartso as to produce tension when the parts are forced toward each other andsuch tension is effective in exerting pressure against the nut that ismounted on the sheath so as to prevent accidental unscrewing of saidnut.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an arch wire holding andadjusting device that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensiveof manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for whichit is intended.

The provision of a threaded sheath for that portion of the arch wirethat passes through the tube on the tooth band, eliminates threading ofthe arch wire and the formation of a. flat face on the interior of thetube for engagement with one of the faces of the arch wire effectuallyprevents rotation of the wire relative to the tube.

The device is capable of very accurately adjusting the length of thearch wire and the sheath is constructed so as to counteract any tendencyof accidental unscrewing of the adjusting nut.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of my improved orthodontia appliancemay be made and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is setforth in the ap-pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an orthodontia appliance, a tube adapted to be secured to a toothband, a threaded sheath -mounted to move lengthwise through said tubeand held against rotary motion, which sheath is substantially U-shape incross section, an arch wire positioned in said U-shaped sheath andrigidly fixed thereto and a nut screw-seated on one end of said sheathand bearing against the end of said tube.

2. In an orthodontic appliance, a tube adapted to be secured to a toothband, a threaded sheath mounted to move lengthwise through said tube andheld against rotary motion, which sheath is substantially U-shape incross section, an arch wire positioned in said U-shaped sheath andrigidly fixed thereto, a nut screw-seated on one end of said sheath andbearing against the end of said tube and the end of the sheath on whichsaid nut is located being spread so as to produce tension thereintending to hold the nut against rotation.

3. In an orthodontia appliance, the combination with an arch wire andtooth band tube, of a threaded sheath provided with a longitudinallydisposed channel in which the end of the arch wire is seated, whichsheath and arch wire are rigidly connected to each other and extendlengthwise through the tooth band tube, a nut located on said threadedsheath and bearing against the end of said tube and which tube, sheathand arch wire are provided with cooperating flat faces so that saidsheath and arch wire are held against rotation within said tube.

l. In an orthodontia appliance, the combination with an arch wire andtooth band tube which arch wire passes thro-ugh said tube and is heldagainst rotation therein, of a threaded sheath provided with alongitudinally disposed channel in which a portion of said arch wire isseated, which sheath extends through the tooth band tube, said arch wirebeing rigidly secured to said sheath and a nut mounted on said threadedsheath and bearing against one end of said tube.

5. In an orthodontia appliance, the combination with an arch wire, of athreaded sheath rigidly secured thereto and having a longitudinallydisposed channel which receives said arch wire, a tubular support forsaid sheath, cooperating means on said tubular support and arch wire forpreventing rotation of the arch wire within said supportV and a nutscrew-seated on said sheath and engaging said tubular member.

6. In an orthodontia appliance, the combination with a tooth band and atubular member secured thereto, of an arch wire, a threaded sheathrigidly fixed to said arch wire and extending through the tubular memberon said tooth band, a nut screw seated on said threaded sheath andengaging one SPENCER R. ATKINSON.

